Fillin’ Up and Feelin’ Good in KC

Cindy Zimmerman

e-podcast The ethanol industry has teamed up with the Indy Racing League and local retailers to help consumers really fill up and feel good by offering ethanol-enhanced fuel at a reduced price prior to most Indy races this season. This edition of Fill Up, Feel Good features the owner of Snappy Stores in Kansas City, Team Ethanol car driver Jeff Simmons and several customers who got a chance to fill up on E10 for $2.17 a gallon before the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 in April.

The “Fill up, Feel Good” podcast is available to download by subscription (see our sidebar link) or you can listen to it by clicking here. (5:30 MP3 File)

The Fill Up, Feel Good theme music is “Tribute to Joe Satriani” by Alan Renkl, thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

“Fill up, Feel Good” is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Fill Up Feel Good, Indy Racing, Promotion

POET Indy 500 Winner

Cindy Zimmerman

PoetPOET is sending one lucky winner to the Indy 500 later this month.

Wes Bolsen of Illinois won the POET online Indy 500 Sweepstakes. As the winner, Bolsen will receive air travel for two to Indianapolis, three nights lodging, and a VIP pass to one of racing’s great events held this year on May 27. In addition to enjoying great hospitality, the VIP pass will enable Bolsen to enjoy a behind-the-scenes transporter tour and attend an exclusive meet and greet with Team Ethanol driver Jeff Simmons.

Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

1200 and Counting

Cindy Zimmerman

The number of E85 refueling locations across the United States has now topped 1,200.

According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition the Renew E85, LLC station in Maryville, Wisconsin became the 1,200th station to offer E85.NEVC

Jay Stoflet of Renew E85, LLC said, “It’s great to reach a milestone like this, but we know there is still a long way to go to for Americans to have the type of convenient access across the US needed to make E85 a viable option for the masses. Being the 1,200th facility to offer E85, our hope is that it illustrates to others there is a waiting market in this country for E85 and that it inspires them to join the cause, helping to fill the demand US consumers have for alternative fuels.”

Last year at this time, the number of E85 sites across the U.S was less than 750 facilities. During the past year, more than 450 new sites have been established including E85 locations opening for the first time in Alabama and Arkansas.

NEVC provides an up-to-date listing of E85 stations nationwide at www.E85Refueling.com.

E85, Ethanol, News

GM Urges NASCAR to use Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Nascar General Motors is reportedly getting more serious about encouraging NASCAR to switch to ethanol.

According to press reports, GM plans to file a formal petition asking that it join other racing leagues and start using ethanol to power its racecars.

GM sponsors 22 NASCAR vehicles under its Chevrolet nameplate, about half the vehicles that start any given race. It’s been promoting more environmentally friendly fuel for months, and now it plans to proceed with an official presentation to NASCAR ownership.

“We do have the technical know-how,” said Brent Dewar, the vice president of GM North America sales, service and marketing. “It’s something we would have to work in conjunction with NASCAR on. NASCAR would have to encourage other manufacturers to do it as well.”

Ethanol, News, Racing

Largest Eastern Corn Belt Plant Begins Production

Cindy Zimmerman

AndersonsThe Andersons, Inc. announces production has begun at the 110-million gallon ethanol plant in Clymers, Indiana. According to the company, the facility is the largest, dry-mill ethanol plant east of the Mississippi.

“We are pleased to have our second ethanol plant operational,” says Mike Anderson, President and CEO of The Andersons, Inc. “We are especially happy to bring this operation to Cass County where we have a generous supply of corn as well as long-standing relationships with local growers. Additionally, we are glad to have the opportunity to support Indiana’s commitment to be a major producer of alternative fuel.”

Ethanol, Facilities, News

AAAS Building Banner

Chuck Zimmerman

AAAS Building BannerOn a walk around my hotel last night here in Washington, DC I saw this building banner for that promoted the AAAS Annual Meeting. The American Association for the Advancement of Science had a news blog for the conference, something that we’re seeing more and more organizations doing these days. In fact, that’s a specialty of our company, ZimmComm New Media.

Hopefully the AAAS looks at ethanol as part of the solution to our energy needs here in America since they do want to advance real science and not the sensationalist pap we still see in some mainstream media outlets like last night’s ABC 2020 farce by John Stossel. I guess he needed a ratings boost and wanted to trash an industry quoting flawed science and relying on emotionalism. Unfortunately for him I think the only appeal he had was to a very small minority of people who are clueless on this issue.

conferences, Ethanol

New Niche Selling Biodiesel Cars

John Davis

As the demand for greener fuels grows, so has the demand for vehicles that burn the green fuels. And according to this story posted on C|Net.com, a niche for salesman offering biodiesel-powered cars has grown as well:

“In 2003, I came out of the closet and became a full-blown car dealer,” said Steve Ahl, a former recycled-lumber salesman who is outfitting his used diesel car lot in Ukiah, Calif., with solar panels. “This isn’t the typical suede shoe used car lot operation.”

Ahl Motors TDI Cars has sold some 700 Volkswagen Turbo Direct Injection (TDI) diesels as well as Ford and Honda trucks, and currently stocks 25 models priced between $10,000 and $35,000. Ahl said most customers tell him they want to kick the fossil-fuel habit by using biodiesel.

And the biodiesel bandwagon isn’t limited to just the utilitarian vehicles for middle-classers. The article goes on to say Hollywood is getting in on the act:

BioBlingIn Los Angeles, publicist Colette Brooks has built a business gussying up vintage diesel cars.

“I have a 1984, rare Lincoln Continental Bill Blass edition that is gold on gold, baby,” she said. “This thing is so pimp; I feel like Barry White when I’m driving. There’s an old-English-meets-gang typeface on the back that says ‘ecology,’ and tinted windows.”

Brooks’ company, BioBling, acquires rare Cadillac, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen models from around the country, modifies each one for biodiesel and offers customizations such as fake fur interiors, glittery paint jobs and flat-screen televisions.

In fact, she’s looking at having biodiesel-fueled limos deliver participants to next year’s Oscars.

Biodiesel

Billion Gallon POET

Cindy Zimmerman

PoetWith the grand opening of POET Biorefining – Corning in Iowa on Friday, POET became only the second company to claim an annual ethanol production capacity of over one billion gallons.

Jeff Broin, CEO of POET, said, “We’ve come a long way since we started with a one million gallon facility 20 years ago, but what really motivates us is the impact that producing one billion gallons of ethanol has on some of the most pressing issues of our day. It stimulates the economy, it improves the environment. And it actually makes our country a more secure place by reducing our need for foreign oil.”

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) attended the grand opening in Corning, along with Congressman Steve King of Iowa, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and ethanol industry representatives Matt Hartwig of the Renewable Fuels Association and Ron Lamberty from the American Coalition for Ethanol.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Bobby Rahal Speech at National Press Club

Chuck Zimmerman

Bobby Rahal at National Press ClubI think Bobby Rahal was a big hit today at the National Press Club. There were a lot of other people from the ethanol industry on the head table but none of them got to speak or answer questions. Everyone was just excited to listen to this great competitor.

Near the end of the hour session we did get to hear from IRL CEO Tony George and I’ll have an interview with him for you later. In the meantime I thought you might want to listen to the whole press conference which includes Bobby’s speech and the Q&A session.

The way they work this is that people write out questions for the speaker and the moderator then poses them to the speaker after their speech. So here you go.

You can listen to the entire event here: Listen To MP3 Bobby Rahal National Press Club (50 min MP3)

Bobby Rahal at National Press Club Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, International, News, Racing

Green Racing By Bobby Rahal

Chuck Zimmerman

Bobby Rahal at National Press ClubFor the first time ever an Indianapolis 500 winner spoke at the National Press Club today. Bobby Rahal was the featured speaker at today’s luncheon with the press. His topic was the “The Greening of Racing: Ethanol Powers the Indianapolis 500.″

He was a winner again today as he spoke and answered questions for about an hour in front of a packed room. I think all the tables were sold out.

Bobby said that he is proud of what the Indy Racing League has done to move to an environmentally friendly fuel because it means they’re focused on more than just entertainment and on what matters and is important to people in their everyday lives here in our country.

You can listen to an excerpt of his speech here: Listen To MP3 Bobby Rahal (3 min MP3)

I’ve created an online photo album from the event you are welcome to visit: Bobby Rahal at National Press Club Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing